Many men would be completely intimidated by being the lone male in a swim exercise class of from 10 to 40 women. Frank Avallone has not only participated year-round in water aerobic classes for nine years, he has become a completely accepted and much admired member of the predominately female classes (in the large winter class, there are sometimes one or two other male members).
Perhaps Frank comes by his love of the water from being born in Rome, city of magnificent fountains. Although his mother was born in America, she went to Italy as a young girl, and Frank was raised and lived in Rome until he was 17, when he decided to take the Andrea Doria and come to America and New Haven.
“At that time, my English was terrible,” he laughs. I lived with my mother’s cousin and did factory work at Sargents while I went to night school. Eventually, Frank graduated from the University of New Haven with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Married to Marilyn Glaser in 1962, he enjoyed an engineering career but ended up teaching math at the Children’s Center in Hamden, a school for emotionally disturbed children. Frank retired about 10 years ago and coincidentally to his leaving work, developed some health problems.
His doctor prescribed regular exercise and Frank started daily water aerobics. Like Frank, I also started water exercise because of a health problem; in my case, a serious ankle injury which makes walking and land exercise, painful.
For many reasons, aquatic exercise is ideally suited to the needs of older adults. Buoyancy assists movements, which allows for a greater range of movement in the water.
In addition to improved muscular strength from working against water-resistance, exercise in the water can have a positive effect on osteoporosis and bone density.
Most of the members of the class, which is sponsored by the Soundview YMCA, say they also enjoy making new friends, learning about a good new movie, book or a place to eat. During the summer session, held at the outdoor Guilford Yacht Club pool, our energetic, full-of-fun instructor, Katie Murray, has coordinated the exercises with the Italian music CDs that Frank has not only provided, but enjoys singing along with as well. To be in the water on a beautiful day and hear lovely music….. “é magnifico!”
Frank has also been teaching the class on how to count in Italian. He loves the sound of his native tongue and gives private language lessons in his home as well as attending a Saturday get-together group that converses (along with expressive hand gestures) only in Italian.
Summer may be over in a few more weeks, but you can be “in the swim” all year-round. Call your local YMCA to inquire about water aerobics classes in your area.
Unfortunately, only the Shoreline “Y” has a Frank Avallone.
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